Empowered girls make for empowered women.Β
That's why Danielle Fradette, a 31-year-old mother of two daughters started Common Ground Mentoring, a new service that aims to empower and educate young girls as they go through adolescence.Β
The idea came to her after attending a women's circle.
"I was around these strong women and you're just always supported and I thought, 'Wow, this would be really great if young girls could have something like that,'" Fradette said. "So I started doing research to see if there was anything besides Girl Scouts β which is wonderful. And I didn't see anything. And from there it came to me. I was like, 'if not me, then who?' So, I started doing trainings on mentoring and it just kinda took off from there."
Through Common Ground Mentoring she hopes to create a network of girls that are the same age going through the same stuff to learn, hang out and talk about all the things in a safe space just for them.
To do that, she has created three programs, each with a set of workshops.
Common Ground also has a "Sponsor a Girl" option, so people can donate money into a fund to help pay tuition for girls who might not otherwise be able to afford it. ClickΒ hereΒ if you're interested.
The Empowerment Project
Empowerment is the goal for this five-week program for girls ages 9-13.Β
"Through my mentoring training and research I narrowed it down to the biggest pieces girls really need to own to reach empowerment," Fradette said.
Those pieces are interpersonal skills, working with other girls and viewing each other as support systems instead of competitors, how to recognize when people aren't being good friends and bullying.Β
Each course will include activities to get "the juices flowing", crafts and a talking circle.
Course topics are: "Sisterhood," "Honoring Our Emotions," "This is Me," "My Truth" and "My Beautiful Body."Β
"The overarching goal is to start building a tribe of other girls that are going through the same experiences as them and build a support system because it's hard to be a teenager and if we can build a community where they know they're supported and their voice matters, that's really the what the underlying goal of the whole empowerment project is," Fradette said.Β
Julie Shulick signed her 11-year-old daughter up for the Empowerment Project's "Sisterhood" course to help her deal with starting a new school.
"I thought this course could give her strategies for making friends as well as what it takes to be a good friend," Shulick said. "I'm hoping it will make her less stressed about starting a new school without knowing many people there. I think all of the courses are timely in this #MeToo era we are currently experiencing, and any way that will help girls to be more assertive, and to speak up when things don't look right, is extremely valuable. My plan is for my daughter to go through all of the courses."
Workshops will be led by Fradette, who is also a school teacher, but she is hoping to bring in other Tucson women as guest mentors.
"Because I think the more powerful women they see at this age, the sooner they'll recognize that power within themselves," Fradette said.Β
The first course, "Sisterhood," starts March 4. Workshops will are held 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday through April 15. The cost is $180 and includes an introductory parent workshop, six sessions, all materials and healthy snacks.
Click here to register.
The Red Tent Project
Girls in the Red Tent Project will make boxes similar to this for themselves.Β
This projects is all about periods and puberty. It's broken up into two courses: Before her first period and after she's had her first period.
Girls will learn all about what's going on with their bodies, how to talk about it and will be introduced to products and remedies.
"So, my goal is to have girls enter that rite of passage with pride and empowerment and giving them a language to talk about it," Fradette said. "Right now we don't have a language that's not very medical. And that doesn't talk to girls."
A parent workshop is included to help them learn how and when to communicate about different things.
"Talking to parents can be embarrassing, but it shouldn't be," Fradette said. "So, that's my goal. I want girls to come into this and be like 'this is part of being a woman and it's not a bad thing and I will be able to talk about it because there's no shame in it.'"
The first course for girls who have not started their periods starts April 14 and meets at 11 a.m. every other Saturday through May 26.Β
The cost is $180 and includes a parent workshop, materials, four sessions and healthy snacks.
Click here to register.Β
The Wonder Women Project
This one is for girls 8-and-up AND a woman in her life, like her mother, aunt or mentor.Β
Fradette, is also a Krav Maga teacher at Rising Phoenix Fitness and Defense, and is offering classes for girls and their moms (or other woman in her life).
"Not just for self defense, but bonding," Fradette said. "At this age, adolescence, it's huge. So, if I could get moms and daughters together doing something that's what I'm going for."
Classes will be held at 11 a.m. every other Saturday starting March 10 at Rising Phoenix Fitness and Defense, 1548 S. Euclid, Suite B.Β The fee is $15 for a girl/mom duo. This is a drop-in class, so you don't need to register, but you can click here for more info.Β
